Toy building-blocks.



H. S. PALMER. Tov BUILDING BLocKs.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE 8. I9I6.

Patented July 30, 1918.

Y Wmemnventor A I Y.

Patented July 30, 1918.

2 SHES- SHEET 2 ammmem Attorneys H. S. PALMER.

TOY BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATloN HLED JUNEB ms s ATnNr entren. y

HAnMoN s. IALM'ER, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA, AssIGNoR or ONE- HALF To CLYDE PALMER, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

TOY BUILDING-BLOCKS.

Application led .Tune 8, 1916.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2 .is a horizontal section on the line Be it known that I, HAuMoN S. Pannen, 2*-2 ot' Fig. 1.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Vaslnngton, 1n the District ot Columbia,

have invented new and useful Toy Building-Blocks, of which the following is a speciication.

The present invention appertains to toy building blocks, and it is the object et' the invention to provide toy building blocks by means of which children can build toy houses, forts and other buildings or struetures of various conligurations, whereby to amuse and instruct the Children.

Itis the object of the invention to provide building blocks of different sizes, but all constructed according to a certain unit of measurement, whereby structures of various sizes and shapes can be built up from the various blocks, and whereby windows, doors and other 'openings can be provided for.

The invention includes novel means for securing together the various courses ot' blocks, 'so that the `building or structure will be substantial.

The invention also makes provision in a simple and Aeffective manner for windows,

"doors, and the like, at various points olf the building construction, so that with a suitable supply 'of the blocks and accompanying parts, a child can construct innumerable forms, sizes and styles of toy structures, which will not only be amusing rbut which will also be instructive along architectural and building lines.

It is also Within the scope of the invention to provide toy building blocks and accompanying building material which can ybe produced at a smalll cost, so as to be put on sale at a nominal price, and by means of which the desired objects are carried out. i

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, vthe invention resides in the combination and arrangement o'l parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise en'ibodiment o'l the inventionherein disclosed can be made within thescope ott what is claimed without departing from the spirit el the invention.

The invention `is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein t Figure il. 1s a front v1ew` oll a building built up treni the .present blocks.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 oil Fig. 2.

Figs. l, 5 and G are perspective views of different blocks which are used.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the window panes or panels.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a pair of dowel pins showing the joint therebetween, portions being broken away.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view ol another style oit' dowel pin.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental horizontal section wherein the dowel pins are disclosed in ditferent positions from those which they occupy in Fig. 2.

The blocks and accompanying parts vare preferably provided or sold in sets, which may contain dilierent numbers of parts to be sold `at dill'erent prices, and each set Contains toy building blocks ot' different sizes. There are plain blocks 1 of different lengths, but all of the same height and width, and the lengths thereof being 'according to a standard unit ot' measurement, say one-half o'li an inch. The blocks 1 can therefore ybe of dilferent lengths, varied by one-haltl inch, so that blocks one-half inch in length, one i-nch in length, one and one-half inches Vin length, and so on, can be used to meet the various conditions which arise in building the various structures. Each o1 the blocks 1, except the shortest thereof, as seen in Fig. 5, is provided with square openings 2 extending vertically therethrough andarranged in a longitudinal series, said openings beingspaced in accordance with the unit of measurement. The ends of each block `1 have recesses or half openings 3, which when they match with thefrecesses oit the adj acent blocks, will provide openings to register with the openings oitthe corresponding upper and `lower blocks ot' the adjacent courses. Corner blocks t ar also provided, which may be oi di'flerent sizes, as will be evident lfrom the foregoing, andeach block 4r is provided with square vertical openings 5 extending therethrough and arranged in accordance with the unit otlmeasurement. 'lhe ends ofthe block 4 have recesses or halt openings the same as the blocks 1. The eornerbloeks can be ol diil'erent sizes, that is, the arms thereol maybe ot'vditl'ereutlengths, butfthe Corner blocks are of thevsame height and width las the plain blocks 1. The arms of the block t illustrated in Fig. 4 are arranged at a right langle relative to one another, but it is evident that the arms of the corner blocks can be arranged at dierent angles relative to one another, so that various shapes offbuildingsycan be provided for. These blocks are formed of concrete or other suitable plastic material, and may be provided in different colors, to represent terra cotta, brick and the like.

In building up a toy house or other structure, the blocks are laid in courses, as in a I regular building, Vthe walls being built up Vby the judicious use of the blocks 1 and 4.

kof the pins 7 being tapered, as at 8, so that the pins can readily enter the openings, and in order that the pins and blocks can be assembled without trouble. The .Y pins are used at such points, as to lock thedierent courses together, and the pins may be coated with paraffin or equivalent material to act as a lubricant, whereby the pins can be slippedinto and out of the holes of the blocks without sticking. A plurality of alining vertical pins Ycan be used, when the height of thev structure is increased, and the adjacent ends of the pins 7 are adapted t0 .di'iierent courses ink place. of the window-frame-orming pins 7 face bind within certainblocks, since the meeting ends of thepins are chamfered or bev- Y eled, as at 9, whereby the pins in being forced together, will cause them to bind at their meeting ends within the respective blocks. Thus, the dowel pins can be extended to differentV heights, whereby all of the courses arelocked together, to prevent the collapse of the building. even though it be built to a f Vconsiderable height. kThe dowel pins 7 can be of diierent lengths, and each of them is provided withk a longitudinal groove 10 in 'one side, useful when windows,` doors, or

other openings are provided in the building.

, Where there isa window, door or other opening inY the wall of the building, Y the dowel pins 7 arerejxposed, the adjacent blocks having their recesses 3 engaging said Vpins 7,

Vas seen in Fig. 2, son that said pins 7 not only provide the Vframe members of the window, but-also assist in locking the blocks of the The grooves 10 the center of the window, to receive the side edges of a window pane or panel 11, constructed of glass or other suitable material,

i and which may be left plain` oi' which may be oriiainented. The pane 11 can be slipped downwardly into engagement with the pins 7 during the building up of the structure, and upper and lower frame members 12, constructed of wood, are cemented or otherwise secured to the upper and lowerv ends of the pane 11. The members or pieces 12 are preferably provided with grooves 13 receiv-V ing the ends of the pane 11, and in which the pane is cemented, although the members or `pieces 12 Vcanbe detachablejfrom the pane if desired. The members 12'are of a length slightly shorter than the width of the paneV 11, whereby the edgesof the paneflrl can enter the grooves 10, while the membersV 12 simply fit between and abut against the pins 7. The panes 11 may be of diii'erent widths and lengths, according to the standard unit of measurement, and in some cases, if desired, the dowel pins 7 can be secured to the edges of the panes, Vso that the panes Vand dowel pins are inserted simultaneously. Vlt is also possible to provide one or more of the dowel pins 7 with opposite grooves.` Such a pin is designated at 7 having the opposite grooves 10, wherea double window is'used, and this permits a series'of windows to be provided with a pin 7 between each pair of windows. The opposite grooves 10 receive the two panes 11. Thus, the dowel pins provide the jambs of the windows, doors, and

the like. The openings of the blocks of the various courses are all in vertical registration, for the reception of the dowel pins.

`Comparing Figs. 2 and 10,'.it will be observed that the dowel pins 7 may be mounted Vin different positionsyabout their axes, so

that the' grooves 10 in the pins may be disposed inwardly or outwardly with respect to the blocks.

The dowel-pian illustrated in rig. 9 my Y also vbe used independently of or in conjunction with the dowel pins 7, this pin 14: f

being constructed of wood, and being of square 'or rectangular cross sectioii.' VThe pin 14 is provided with slots 15 cut therein i'roin its opposite ends, whereby the pin is ,Y

expansible and contractible transversely. Thus, the pin can be compressed toenter the openings of the'blocks, and Vwhen'the pin is released, it will expand to fit tightly within the blocks, whereby to hold the blocksoi the superposed courses firmly in place. The

. pin la may be of any suitable length.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, it is believed that the invention can be thoroughly understood and.

its advantageous features .appreciated,'it beingobvious that the presentV invention enables various sizes and styles of toy buildings to be built upby a child, toprovide forV the childs amusement and education. The invention is not only useful asl a toy, but can also be used for exhibition or display pur-113g Y,

poses, as a model or reproduction of a full sized building.

If desired, the slots l5 of the dowel pin 14 can be filled with rubber or other compressible material, so that the pin will be more substantial, and less apt to break.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A toy building wall composed of superposed courses or blocks having registering openings, and pins inserted in and removable from said openings to lock the blocks of the various courses together when inserted and to enable the blocks to be separated when said pins are withdrawn, said pins being insertible in different positions about their axes, said wall having an opening therein, one of said pins being located at the side of the wall opening and engaging the ends of the eorrespondlng blocks to hold them in place, said pin extendinor beyond the wall opening into other bloei-is to be held in place thereby, and having a groove in one side.

2. A toy building wall composed of superposed courses of blocks having square openings between their ends and half-openings at their ends, said openings being in registration and spaced according to a standard unit of measurement for the blocks, and pins inserted through said openings to lock the blocks of the various courses together and adapted to be withdrawn from said blocks to enable the wall to be knocked down and the blocks separated for rebuilding, said pins having grooves in one side and being insertible in different positions about their axes, said wall having an opening, two of said pins being disposed at the side of said wall opening, those blocks at the side of the wall opening having their respective half-openings engaging said pin to hold said blocks in place, and said pin entering other blocks beyond the wall opening to be held in place thereby.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of a witness.

HARMON S. PALMER.

Witness IVY E. SIMPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the (fommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

